Magnus Carlsen, the world’s top-ranked chess player, has called for the resignation of International Chess Federation (FIDE) President Arkady Dvorkovich, accusing him of player coercion, misuse of power, and broken promises. This demand follows the breakdown of negotiations between FIDE and the Freestyle Chess Tour, co-founded by Carlsen and German entrepreneur Jan Henric Buettner, over the use of the term “world championship” and participation waivers.
FIDE recently stated it could not reach an agreement with the Freestyle Tour regarding the term “world championship.” Consequently, it required players to sign a waiver to remain eligible for the official World Championship cycle. In response, the Freestyle Tour criticized FIDE but agreed to delay using “world championship” for its grand finale, allowing players to participate without signing a waiver.
Sharing private correspondence with Dvorkovich, Carlsen revealed that Dvorkovich had assured him in a message before the World Rapid and Blitz Championship in New York that players would not be impacted by disputes between FIDE and the Freestyle Tour. Dvorkovich allegedly promised to resign if his word was undermined by the FIDE Council. With the new waiver requirement, Carlsen insists Dvorkovich has reneged on his promise and demands his resignation.
Neither FIDE nor Dvorkovich immediately addressed Carlsen’s statement. Meanwhile, the Freestyle Tour will proceed with its events, starting in Germany on February 6 and continuing through Paris, New York, New Delhi, and Cape Town later in the year. Notable participants, including reigning world champion D Gukesh, have been confirmed.
In an open letter, Buettner reiterated the Freestyle Tour’s commitment to protecting players from FIDE’s controversial tactics. Effective February 3, the decision to withhold the “World Champion” title for the tour’s winner is delayed by 10 months, ensuring players are not pressured into difficult choices or signing FIDE’s disputed waiver. FIDE maintains that no resolution was possible despite its concessions.
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2025/02/05/carlsen-accuses-fide-chief-of-coercion-broken-promises/
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Publish Date: 2025-02-05 10:38:00
